In relation to women's rights, you've got to remember that we're living in a country where according to the International Violence Against Women survey "Over half of the women surveyed (57%) had experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence over their lifetime." (taken from
http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/statistics.html#police where there's a heap of statistics to ruin your day.. )
I think thats highly pessimistic..
I agree that injustice will always exist if humanity remains evident, but I think we should try to differentuate the differences, rather than simarlarities between now and before a movement.
Although, as you pointed out "Over half of the women surveyed (57%) had experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence over their lifetime.", another huge percentage of women experience freedom of speech, consent, the vote, employment and overall equal rights. This in comparison to 50 years earlier is a major step, and success.
I think if you look at animal rights in the same light as civil rights, or woman's rights, as this post suggests, it makes complete sense in the comparison. If we work for animal rights, in the same way those before us have campaigned for other discriminitory issues, we can make major adjustments.
No, we can't wipe out injustice to animals completely, just as we can't wipe out sexism, racism and overall discrimination, but we can make radical changes.
The exposure, and enlightenment to the injustice of a particular issue, given enough time and effort, can change the attitude of a majority.
Equal rights for both men and women (as stated before) 50 years earlier was deemed a ridiculous propostion by the majority, but with some effort and time, this was swayed.
Yes, a minority abuse the effect of this movement, but the significance is that the majority accept and practice it. It is now the norm.
And this can be done in the same way for animals!
Think about it. Further exposure in the last ten years alone has increased the number of vegetarians dramatically. Vegan and vegetarian alternatives are now readily available in most supermarkets and some abuse to animals is recognised, and people have acted. This is the start of a movement! One that is growing increasing support.
Be optimistic, and active, and we can definetly see a improved future for animals. Its been proven that this system works!
